Rating: Summary: The first and so far the best of Jordan's awesome epic Review: I'm on the 6th book of the WOT now and all of the books so far are excellent (though I hear otherwise about 7 and 8, I'll have to read them for myself), but this one is the best. The other books continue the series smoothly and have show no sign of dwindling, but the first one was where we met all of the characters and saw all of the new places and were introduced to Jordan's awesome world. From beginning to end it had me captivated. I think that this book is the best in the series so far.
Rating: Summary: First book was great Review: Well, EoTW was indeed a great book. It contains all of the elements of a successful fantasy, while avoiding some of the more show-stopping cliches. Jordan's world is well imagined and described, and it doesn't take a whole lot of effort to put together history/politics/etc. like it does in some epic fantasies. I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who enjoyes epic fantasy; Jordan's prose is enjoyable, his descriptions vivid, his characterization and dialogue are above average.With that said, I must now proceed with my misgivings. I have been reading the WoT books for quite a while now; since The Dragon Reborn came out in hardcover, and for a time, I eagerly awaited the next volume. Unfortunately, I must say that my enthusiasm has waned recently. Rabid Jordan fans will defend him to the death, but the last two or three book (Crown of Swords, Path of Daggers, etc) have moved the plot forward very little. I will not go so far as to say that Jordan is simply pumping out trash to make money off of the brilliance of his earlier works, but that wouldn't be far off the mark. Many of his fans have expressed their discontent, and hopefully he has gotten back on track with the next book, Winter's Heart. If you haven't started the series yet, then read through The Dragon Reborn (book 3) and then read the reviews of Winter's Heart. If they are good, then slog your way through books 4-7 and then hopefully enjoy the rest of the series. If Winter's Heart turns out to be another sell-out, I would recommend you just pretend that The Dragon Reborn is the last book; don't waste your money on the rest.
Rating: Summary: Highly Overrated Review: Someone, please explain what's so special about these books. Don't think for a moment that I'm complaining about any difficulty or confusion, I see nothing complex about Mr. Jordan's writing. I find the characters to be very shallow and interchangeable, the plot nonexistent (ooh, hero has to fight 'The Dark One' to the death...) and the enemies bordering on absurdity(Trollocs! -please-). Jordan does a nice job in terms of description and detail for his world, I'll give him that. But my evident failing is that I do not read for magic, or fancy prose, or what the texture of every building looks like. I have the drawback of reading for character depth, interaction and plot. Terry Goodkind is a FAR better and more brilliant author in ten pages than Jordan can ever hope to be in a handful of books. If you read to get into the minds and hearts of characters, go pick up Wizard's First Rule and delve into the SoT series. If you prefer fancy descriptions and mindless action scenes, read Eye of the World and the rest of the WoT.
Rating: Summary: Intense Review: This novel is excellent, the mail reason for me is that it is vey well written and the characters are well defined. I have read and reread this series and am enthralled every time. Definitely worth reading.
Rating: Summary: Deep into Jordan Review: Welcome to the new godfather of fantasy. Jordan creates a world with so much depth and intrigue, so much color and life, that you will begin to wonder if he has not secretly traveled to a different realm and taken notes. Jordan starts his epic in the Eye of the World, and if anyone has searched for a fantasy series with a little more oomph than the normal run of the mill storylines, you will find it here. Most people might find that Jordan has copied some ideas from other authors, but the truth is that he is the pinoneer. With his completely revolutionary ideas in fantasy, from women as powerful and feared, to magic making men crazy, to sorts of powers that are imaginative and novel, this work does not disappoint in any sort of form. His writing is brillant, succint, and beautiful, his characters consistent, and his ideas so creative that you will only be itching to become part of the action. HAVE FUN!
Rating: Summary: Avoid the audiocassette! Review: Note that this review is for the AUDIOCASSETTE version of the TEoTW. I got it for my husband cause he's not a reader - BIG MISTAKE! DO NOT get this audiocassette for anyone you want to understand your love a Randland who doesn't have the time to do the book thing. The characters are whittled down to nothing and the plot jumps too much (only 2 cassette tapes abridges after all). Just thought you addicts might like this hint!
Rating: Summary: Very satisfying! Review: A fantastic page turner, this book will keep you up for several nights to see what happens next! I've read 'em all through Path of Daggers, and I went back and basically re-read this one a couple years ago. TEotW has a somewhat different style than the others, simpler and much more linear with no more than two or three different threads at once! Jordan truly does an awesome job of bringing his new world to life. Each unique location in the novel, from Shadar Logoth to the Tua'than camp to the Eye of the World itself, is described in great detail and immerses the reader in the characters' reality. The viewpoint is third person omniscient, but the reader is left nearly as much in the dark as the characters, hence the page-turning nature of the work. Also, TEotW serves as a standalone novel in addition to being the first in a great series that still has no end in sight! The climax is satisfying and there is no real cliffhanger like the later books in the series. Recommended.
Rating: Summary: Its Jordan all the Way Review: After reading this great book, Jordan has proved to me that he is amung the greatest fantasy authors of all time, i persanaly rate him up with Toilken, Terry Brooks, and R. A. Salvatore. I put this book down thinking to myself that on very rare occasions, very talented storytellers create worlds that become realitlies. in THE EYE OF THE WORLD, Robert Jordan gives us such a world. To the smallest detial it existes in the readers mind, and its inhabiitants will stalk and swagger and shrine in the your mind long after the last page. Many writers have tryed to ocomplish such a task, and very few do; Robert Jordan does.
Rating: Summary: this book is ALRIGHT, nothing more Review: I just want to point out the level of intelligence of the people reading, and liking this kind of book. There is one person that says Jordan is the best fantasy writer of the past 20 years! JORDAN HASN'T BEEN WRITING FOR TWENTY YEARS! No, he produces these shallow books all too quickly, he has been writing for a little over ten years. Although one would think that to write as many books of this size an author would neet at least 50 years, we are mistaken. The book started out well... but it drew on and on... and yes, I've heard over an over again that this book was supposed to be an INTRODUCTION to the series... but I don't buy that. if it was an introduction, it didn't need to be 800 pages long, also, if I may point out, J.R.R. Tolkien gave us an EXTREMELY more complex and developped world in only three books, so there was no need for an introducion. I read the book through to the end, and although it isn't a bad book, I don't see any point in reading on. A friend of mine at school thought that the book was good, and then went on to reading the second one... and gave up half way through... there is nothing in this series of suspense, and nothing in this series that makes me want to read on. Better luck next time, Jordan!
Rating: Summary: Tolkein=escape, Jordan=vacation! Review: What a long series of books! No wonder I'm hooked, after this much time reading it's almost like brainwashing! While I was reading this series, I have been taking breaks between books to read The Lord of the Rings, just as a change of pace. What a mistake! I was totally caught between two amazing epic adventure stories. I cut my losses and quickly wrapped up LoTR before continuing the much longer WoT series. I've read a lot of reviews and although there is grounds for comparing WoT to LoTR since they seem to follow the same formula (at the start anyway), I must emphasize that the two series are very differnt. They have their own distinct styles, and are achieving different goals. I therefore do not think it is fair to compare the two series, especially since one of them isn't completed yet. That said, the EotW is one of the best books I have ever read. I was captivated from the first chapter. It is refreshing that the protagonists know as little about their world as the reader. As the gripping (almost superglue) story unfolds, we are barraged with what seems to be an endless stream of interesting side stories. Although most are not essential to the main plot, these stories help develop the characters and establish the WoT universe. However, these side stories seem to be a major complaint among the crtics. I think this stems from the following factors: 1) Mr. Jordan knows how to keep the reader in a constant state of wanting to see what happens next. 2) The side stories do not advance the plot but instead build more. It seems that people who disliked this book may have been more addicted to it then the die-hard fans, and were disgruntled by their ever-present anticipation for the plot to resolve itself! To this I say, sit back and enjoy Jordan's depth. Either that or reread the stroy. Since you know what's going to happen you might be able to pay attention this time! Anyway, EotW is incredible. Despite what people say it does stand by itself. However, one is left a the end in such good spirits that he is compelled (almost mercilessly) to continue with the series. The bounds of Jordan's imagination is limitless. I am on the 5th book now, and all I can say is wow!
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